Some things to think about...

As I started to read George Couros blog post "Has “Twitter” Changed or Has Our View?", my thoughts actually went to different social media and my feelings towards them lately. Then I moved on to Wesley A. Fryer's blog and his discussion on "Why You Should NOT Quit Facebook or Twitter", where my feelings bounced a different direction.  And then I thought of a TedTalk that I had to watch for a course I took just a bit ago, "Connected, but alone?" with Sherry Turkle. My thoughts go in many different directions when I think about the benefits of social media but I feel my thoughts are changing again as I work on a personalized learning network(PLN) on Twitter. 

I think the piece that often surprises people when I chat with them is that I love technology but I am the first to say it is not needed in all situations.  I see myself as a lifetime learner and that is why I originally changed majors 24 years ago from natural resources to computer science.  I love seeing the innovation, creativity and the constant change that technology can bring to the world.  However, I am the first to say put the device down, I am not always the first to know something because I limit my time on Facebook, and I often explain there is something to say to about picking up the phone and calling someone instead of sending the text or email. In Sherry Turkle's TedTalk she discusses "that we sacrifice conversation for mere connection. We short-change ourselves. And over time, we seem to forget this, or we seem to stop caring." This is exactly how I have been feeling about social media.  Finding myself wanting to be more present and disconnect more often. On the other hand, I feel I need to be connected and that my view is changing. I am seeing it in a different light. 

As I have started to really dive into Twitter and start to embrace the idea of using it to work on my PLN, I can see a positive side to all of this.  I can see how Twitter can help to expand conversations and create connections that reach further than our immediate community. Twitter can work in so many ways to help build a place to build a library of resources.  For example, as I start to finish my final plans for a session for an upcoming professional development day at the district, I am excited to find new resources on Twitter that I will be able to share with the teachers.  This is the piece that I feel brings it all back together though. It is the fact that it is great to build connections with others outside the community but then share the resources with those around you.  This helps to bring it full circle and have the face to face conversations on the topics, conversations that are still so important.  I am enjoying creating my PLN using Twitter and I am excited to see what connections I make, near and far. I have no plans to quit Twitter anytime soon, Facebook may take a little more convincing. It may be a time to say "See you later, Facebook".

Turkle, Sherry. (2012). Connected, but alone?[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together/transcript?language=en#t-438374

Who do I admire as a Leader?

Just to ask myself this question, "Who do I admire as a Leader?", my thoughts go to a number of different individuals I have worked with in different capacities in the last few years or individuals I have observed outside of the work environment.  There are two strong leaders that come to mind immediately.  I think the reason I thought of the two of them first is that they are two people that I have the most respect because of how they work with the individuals around them.

As I think about the two individuals, their strongest characteristics as far as being a leader is one that Simon Sinek discussed in his interview with Omaid Homayun, "How Anyone Can Be The Leader They Wish They Had: An Interview With Simon Sinek", practicing empathy. Being aware of different situations, understanding other peoples points of view, and being able to work with them and lead them in the direction that works best for everyone involved is an important trait for a leader.  Having the courage to take responsibility for the first step that they see fit for the organization all while involving everyone at some level to make them feel included.

When thinking about successful leaders, I think of these leaders who are there working right alongside the individuals who are less in rank.   A leader who is hard working and as involved as they feel their employees should be.  Everyone is part of the process and not one person is taking the glory for the success, everyone gets a little bit of the limelight.

This post includes a number of my random thoughts about leaders that I admire.  I will continue to use both of them as an example for myself as I move forward in this journey.

Stay tuned...

Who am I as a leader?

I never thought of myself as a leader.  I often just think of myself as a team player.  My first experience of being a leader was not related to a work position.  It was a Relay for Life team.  Sure I was listed as the team captain, but we were a team.  I was the one that had to attend meetings to gather information to bring back to the team.  I was not the leader.  It took the effort of everyone involved to do the amazing projects that we pulled off.  However, now that I reflect back to that time I was leading the team.  They looked to me for answers to questions, for resources to help them and to be the one to hold the team together.

As I think of myself as leading projects now at work, I feel I take the same approach.  It takes a team to complete many tasks.  It takes everyone sharing their point of views and giving their experiences to make a project successful. In some cases, in the position I am now in as the technology coordinator, I find my self being the one being more of the "cheerleader" for a teacher who is intimidated by the technology than the person leading their way and making them feel even worse about the insecurities with tech.

As I was reflecting on who I am as a leader, I was listening to Simon Sinek's TED Talk, "How great leaders inspire action".  I really started to make notes of what my "why" is as I start this new position and take this course.  I feel I know the basic part of my "why" which includes helping and supporting others.  I want to make it so technology is "easy" for others and they find the love for it that I have had for years.  Changing from the network administrator to the technology coordinator has allowed me to find my passion again when related to technology. I need to take the responsibility to make sure teachers are supported in their adventure of bringing technology to their classroom.  I need to have the courage to support and lead them while not making them feel like I am taking over their current practices.  I feel this will be where I need to continue to grow.  Being the person they see that use to come in and "fix" the internet or phone system to now helping them with technology in the classroom will be a challenged that I will need to continue to work on my "how" and "what" while always changing and reflecting on my "why".

I am excited to see where I will grow the most through the Leadership and Technology course.  And I am excited to see where this blog takes me.  George Couros' blog post 3 Ways Blogging Has Helped Me Grow as a Learner, gave me a direction with blogging that has helped to make it a little less intimidating.

I look forward to the future...

Welcome to Leading Technology in the NEK.

Welcome to my first official blog.  

Snowy day in the NEK.

This is a new adventure. I am excited to get started and to see where I will go.  I feel like I have a bit of a blank slate like a field with freshly fallen snow. I am thrilled to be part of a course in leadership and technology that will help kick-start this adventure in leading technology in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.